Machinery



(No Model.) 4 Sheets- -Sheet 1.

G. H. REYNOLDS. I

- AIR GOMPRESfiING MACHINERY. No. 272,771. Patented Peb.20,1 883.

N. PErERs. Pbelbmgrap'cnn wuhin mn. 04 c4 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. H. REYNOLDS.

AIR GOMPRESSING MACHINERY. No. 272,771. Patented Peb.20, 1883.

N. PETERS. Phnwulhoww u Wmhlngion. I18.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. HhRE YNOLDS.

AIR UOMPRESSING MACHINERY.

No. 272,771. Patented Feb. 20, 1883.

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UNITED STATES GEORGE E. REYNOLDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO CORNELIUS H. DELAMATER AND GEORGE H. ROBINSON, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-COMPRESSING MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,771, dated February 20, 1883.

Application filed May 3, 1882.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beitknown that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, of the city and countyofNewYork, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Compressing Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

One partof my invention relates to air-compressors in which the cooling of the compressing-cylinder is effected. by discharging coolingagainst made very effective in cooling.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the compressor-cylinder and means for delivering cooling-water into said cylinder, of a chamber arranged between said cylinder and the storage-tank for compressed air, and means for conducting air and water together from said cylinder to said chamber and allowing of the escape of the water from said chamberindependently of the air. The pipe or conduit which is employed as a'means of conducting air and water from the compressing-cylinder to said chamberis preferably provided with a check-valve, independent of the discharge-valves of the compressor, for preventing the return of water and air.

The invention also consists in a novel meth- 0d of securing a suction-valve for an air-compressorupon its valve-stem, whereby the valve is tightened upon its stem by its impact in closing.

The invention also consists in a novel form of stop for the suction-valve.

The invention also consists in a novel form of yielding'stop for the discharge-valve of an air-compressor, for limiting the opening ofsaid valve.

The invention also consists in. the combination, with an air-compressing cylinder, of a (No model.)

frame, to the side of which said cylinder is secured, and which is'provided at the side of the cylinder with a tool-box having an opening on the side of theframe opposite to that on which said cylinder is secured. The heat of the compressing-cylinder will prevent oil in oil-cans placed in the toolbox from congealing in cold weather.

The invention also consists in details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of a double-acting air-compressor embodying my invention and its opcrating-engine. Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical section. upon the dotted linear m, Fig. 6 1, of the chamber into which the water and air are delivered from the compressor, together with its appurtenances, and upon a larger scale. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of one of the suction-\ 'alves upon a larger scale. Fig. 4. represents a similar section of one of the discharge-valves upon the same scale as Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a partial longitudinal section-of the air-compressing cylinder on a larger scale..Fig. 6 represents a transverse section thereof on the same scale as Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 represents a partly-sectional plan of the operating-engine shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference designate come sponding parts in the several figures.

A designates the motor or steam-cylinder, and B designates the compressor-cylinder, both of which are secured to a common bedplate or frame, 0. The pistons of both oylin- 8 ders A and B are connected to a common piston -rod, A; and D designates the connectingrod, and E the crank through which the steampiston transmits motion to the crank-shaft F.

A similar engine operating a second aircomo pressor cylinder may be connected with the crank-shaft F, and in such case the two cranks should be set at right angles to each other, so that while one engine is on the center the otheris exerting its maximum power. I pro- 5 vide the compressing-engine with a double acting pump, G, which may be of any suitable construction, and as here shown is oper- 2 awn ated by an eccentric, G, on the crank-shaft F. The engine here shown is provided with cutoif-valve gear, as shown in Fig. 7. G designates the main slide-valve, and G the cut-ofl" valves, which are operated through a rod, G. The rod from the eccentric G is arranged between the pump G and the valve-rod G and is connected by a cross-head, G with the piston of the pump and the said valve-rod. It will therefore be seen that the same eccentric operates the cut-ofi-valve gear and the pump. The pump-piston and thepiston in the compressor-cylinder B are always moving in the same direction, or simultaneously backward and forward, and I connect the two ends'of the pump G by pipes a a with the corresponding endsof the compressor-cylinder B. WVater is discharged through the pipes at a into the ends of the cylinder B, and,striking against the piston, is converted into spray, thus bringing it into such direct and intimate contact with the air that it is "cry effective in cooling.

It will be observed that when the water is being discharged through either pipe a or a the compressor-piston is moving toward the end of the cylinder at which the water enters. The waterand the piston,always movingin opposite directions, are opposed to each other. The compressor-cylinder B is provided with one or more suction and discharge valves at each end, as seen in Fig. 1, and though these valves may be of any suitable construction, I prefer to use those shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

Referring first to Fig. 3, H designates the socket or shell of the valve, which is screwed into the head B of the cylinder, and has at its innerend a valve-seat, I). Idesignates the valve which is fitted to this seat, and l designates the stem, which is adapted to slide in a suitable guide, Z). The valve is held to its seat, in the usual way, by a spring, 0. Beyond the guide b the stem 1 is surrounded by a sleeve, which is placed between washers c and the sleeve and washers are secured on the valve-stem by nuts 0 The spring 0 surrounds the sleeve be tween the two washers, and it is obvious that when the valve opens to the desired extentthe washer 0 adjacent to the nuts 0 will strike against the end of the sleeve, and the latter therefore will form a stop to prevent the valve opening to an undesirable extent. The guide I) might be extendethso as to itself form the stop.

I make the valve I and stem 1 of two separate pieces, and in the valve is a hole, d, which tapers fromthe back of the valve toward its face, or in the direction in which the valve moves to seat itself, and fits a corresponding tapered portion, (1, on the inner end of its stem 1. The stem 1 is driven into the hole (1 from the back of the valve, and hence the constant working of the valve will only tend to force it tighter on the stem. To further secure it I may rivetthe valve down over the end of the stem. as at (1 Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, which represent the discharge-valve, B designates an air chest or space, which is formed in the head B at the point where the discharge-valves are placed, and which communicates with a passage, B below the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. J designates the cylindric socket in which the hollow valve J works. The head B has formed in it a seat, 0, on which the valve J closes,and itis held to its seat bya spiralspring, e. The socket J is closed at the outer end by a plug or bonnet, J and in the inner end thereof is formed a socket, f, in which a stronger spiral spring, f, tits. Vhen the valve J is closed the end of the spring f does not bear against it, but is at a considerable distance therefrom. \Vhen the valve opens, however, it is forced against the springf, which constitutes a yielding stop for limitiiig the movement of the valve and preventing its hammering. A rubber stop has been before used in place of the springf', but is very unsatisfactory, because the heat of the air rapidly softens or melts the rubber and renders it worthless. The compressed air passes from the air chesrs'or spaces B in the heads of each cylinder B to the passage B", and then escapes through a discharge pipe or conduit, K, (shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2,) which is connected with the passage 13, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Adjacent to the cylinder B, and between itand the storage-tank for com pressed air, (not here shown,) is located a chamber, L, represented as composed of a base portion and a cylinder mounted thereon, (see Fig. 2,) and the compressed air and water from the cylinder B pass together through the pipe or conduit K into the chamber L,

whence they issue through a check-valve, K. The height of the water in the chamber L is controlled by a discharge cook or valve, 9, and float g; and M designates a water-gage,which may be applied to the chamber L.

\Vhere two com pressing-engines are employed, as before. described, two pipes or conduits K are used, and one pipe or conduit is here shown as broken off. The air passes up through the water in the chamber L, by which it is both cooled and dried, and is then delivered from the top of the chamber through a pipe, N, whence it passes to the storage-tank.

In the use of air-compressors many small tools are required, and I form in the frame 0, adjacent to the compressor-cylinder B, a toolbox, having an opening which is closed by doors O,(shown clearly in Fig. 1,) on the side of the frame opposite to that on which is the cylinder 13. Such a tool-box is very desirable, inasmuch as the heat of the compressorcylinder is sufficient to prevent oil contained in oil-cans in the tool-boxes from becoming congealed by cold, even when the compressor is located in an exposed position.

What Iclaim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combinatiomwith the cylinder and piston of an air-compressor, of a steam-engine IOC IIO

for operating the same, having a cutoff-valve gear and an eccentric for actuating the same, and a pump operated from said eccentric for delivering water into the ends of the cylinder and against the face of the piston, whereby the water is converted into spray, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the cylinder and piston of an air-compressor, of means for delivering water directly into the cylinder during the movement of said piston, a chamber arranged between the cylinder and the airstorage tank, and means for conducting the water and air together from said cylinder to said chamber, and for allowing the escape of the water independently of the air, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the cylinder and piston of an air-compressor, of means for de-- livering water directly into the cylinder during the movements of said piston, a pipe or conduit for'couducting the water and air together from said cylinder, and a check-valve in said pipe or conduit, independent oi the discharge-valves of the compressor, for preventing the return of water and air, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the air-compressor cylinder B and its piston, of means for delivering water into the cylinder during the movement of the piston, the pipe or conduit K, through which the water and compressed air are to be conducted together, the chamber L, with which said pipe or conduit communicates, and which is provided with the escape-pipe N for air, the check-valve K in said pipe or conduit K, for preventing the return of air and water, and the cock gand float g for controlling the escape of water from said chamber, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a suction-valve for an air-compressor, having in it a hole tapering in the direction in which said valve moves in closing, of a valve-stem having its inner end correspondingly tapered and driven into and through said hole from the back of the valve, whereby the impact of the valve in closing tends to tighten it upon said stem, substantially as specified.

6. Thecombination of the valve-stem I,having the taper portion d, and the valve I, having the taper hole d, into which said stem is driven, said valve being riveted over the end of the stem at 6?, substantially as specified.

7. Thecombination, with asuction-valve and its stem, of a guide or sleeve surrounding the valve-stem and forming a stop for limiting the opening movement of said valve, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the suction-valve I and its stem 1, of the guide 11, the loose sleeve 0, and the spring 0, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with the suction-valve I and its stem 1, of the guide I), the loose sleeve 0, the spring 0, the washers c and the nuts 0 substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with the dischargevalve J for an air-compressor, and its seat 6,

of the spring 0 for holding said valve to its seat, the socket], and the metallicspiral spring f in said socket, forming a yielding stop to limit the movementof the valve, substantially as specified.

11. The combination, with an air-compressing cylinder, of a frame to the side of which said cylinder is secured, and which is provided at the side of the cylinder with a tool-box having an opening on the-side of the frame opposite to that on which the cylinder is secured, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

GEO. H. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

E. S. INNET,

HENRY F. HAMILL. 

